Stabilization of the hydrodynamic flame instability by a weak shock

The problem of stabilization of the hydrodynamic flame instability due to collision of a flame with a weak shock is revised. It is shown that correct treatment of this, problem leads to results different from the Markstein solution [G. H. Markstein, Nonsteady Flame Propagation (Pergamon, Oxford, 1964)]. It is obtained that depending on the shock intensity a flame-shock collision may lead to temporary reduction of the perturbation amplitude ar the flame front, to complete suppression of initial perturbations, or to inversion of the flame shape. Scalings for the shock intensity leading to stabilization or destabilization of a flame front are obtained. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.